How to Remove COAF From Your Credit Report

Updated

Is COAF hurting your credit score?

Credit Saint has successfully assisted countless clients in removing inaccurate and questionable credit inquiries from their credit reports.

What is COAF?

COAF is a credit report code that stands for Capital One Auto Finance. It’s utilized to represent any financial transactions or loans associated with a Capital One car loan. You may also see similar names like ‘Cap One auto’ or ‘Capital One auto fin’ used too. These are just different ways of saying the same thing – they all point to car loan activities with Capital One.

Why is COAF on my credit report?

COAF may appear on your credit reports for various reasons, all related to auto financing with Capital One:

  • Application for a car loan: If you’ve applied for a Capital One auto loan, a COAF credit inquiry will be recorded on your report as a part of the credit check process.
  • Existing auto loan: If you currently have an auto loan with the bank, COAF will appear on your report to indicate this existing loan.
  • Co-signing a loan: If you co-sign an auto loan for someone else, this will be reflected in your credit report as COAF.
  • Unauthorized inquiries or errors: There are cases where COAF might appear on your report due to an error or an unauthorized credit check.
  • Identity theft: An unexpected appearance of COAF could be a warning sign of identity theft, particularly if you haven’t engaged in any auto financing activities with Capital One. This suggests that someone may have fraudulently used your personal information.

The Difference Between Hard and Soft Inquiries

What is a hard inquiry?

A hard credit inquiry happens when you apply for new credit, and the lender or creditor checks your credit reports to determine your creditworthiness. Examples of situations where a hard inquiry might occur include applying for a mortgage, apartment, car loan, credit card, insurance policy, or even a job application.

Hard inquiries can lower your credit score by a few points, but too many in a short period can cause significant damage to your credit score.

What is a soft inquiry?

A soft credit inquiry, on the other hand, occurs when a creditor checks your credit history without your permission. For example, when a credit card issuer or lender prequalifies you for an offer or an existing creditor monitors your current credit situation. Unlike hard inquiries, soft inquiries do not impact your credit scores.

How long do hard inquiries stay on your credit report?

Hard inquiries remain on your credit report for up to two years, regardless of whether you are approved for the auto loan. Each inquiry is recorded by one or more of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Dealing with Unauthorized Inquiries

If you find COAF on your credit report as a hard inquiry, and you don’t recognize it or are certain you didn’t initiate, take the following steps:

  1. Contact Capital One Auto Finance: Look for the lender’s contact info on your credit report. Ask them why the COAF hard inquiry was made. They should be able to explain it and confirm if it’s authorized.
  2. Dispute it with the credit bureaus: Write a credit dispute letter to each credit bureau reporting it. Tell them about the COAF inquiry and explain that you didn’t approve it. Include details like the date of the inquiry and any relevant account numbers. Ask them to remove it from your report. Send this letter using certified mail with a return receipt, so you have proof you sent it.

COAF Contact Information

Address:

Capital One Auto Finance
8050 Dominion Pkwy
Plano, TX 75024

Phone number: (800) 946-0332

Can COAF be removed from my credit report?

Credit repair companies like Credit Saint excel in removing COAF inquiries and other inaccurate negative entries from credit reports. An experienced credit repair company can also provide assistance in disputing and potentially eliminating various negative items from your credit reports, such as:

  • late payments
  • collections
  • charge offs
  • foreclosures
  • repossessions
  • bankruptcies

Start Repairing Your Credit Today

If you’re looking for a reputable credit repair company to help you improve your credit, consider working with Credit Saint. They have successfully helped many people in similar situations.

Visit their website and fill out the form to see how they can assist you in repairing your credit and securing a brighter financial future.

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